AUTOPSY RULES SUSPECT IN CUSTODY DIDN'T DIE OF BRUTALITY, POLICE SAY

Oakland Police Chief Wayne Tucker said Saturday that an independent
autopsy confirmed that a man who died in police custody Nov. 10 was
not the victim of police brutality.

But the brother of Patrick Gaston, 34, disputed Tucker's account,
saying the autopsy showed he suffered a crushed lung at the hands of police.

The second autopsy -- requested by Gaston's family and conducted
Friday at the city's expense -- concluded that "he was not beaten. He
was not choked," Tucker said at a community meeting Saturday.

The chief acknowledged that police struck Gaston three times while
attempting to handcuff him as he allegedly resisted arrest.

Authorities say Gaston choked to death on a sandwich bag full of 18
smaller bags of drugs while being arrested after allegedly selling
narcotics to undercover officers in West Oakland.

Gaston's family and other witnesses contend he was beaten and choked
by officers. "It was definitely from police brutality," Martin Adrow,
Gaston's brother, said of the crushed lung.

Adrow said his family plans to file a lawsuit against the city. He
said the autopsy did determine a cause of death, but he declined to
say what it was, saying he needed to consult with attorney John
Burris. Burris could not be reached for comment Saturday.

An Alameda County coroner's deputy said Saturday that the cause of
death had not been determined yet for the initial autopsy.